tRNA-derived small RNAs in plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses

Chaojun Wang; Weiqiang Chen; Maimaiti Aili; Lei Zhu; Yan Chen

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1131977

tRNA-derived small RNAs in plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jan 30:14:1131977. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1131977. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Chaojun Wang¹, Weiqiang Chen^{2

3}, Maimaiti Aili³, Lei Zhu⁴, Yan Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Education Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China.
² Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
³ Xinjiang Institute of Traditional Uyghur Medicine, Urumqi, China.
⁴ Institute of Thoracic Oncology and Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
⁵ Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Editing, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) represent a novel category of small non-coding RNAs and serve as a new regulator of gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Growing evidence indicates that tsRNAs can be induced by diverse stimuli and regulate stress-responsive target genes, allowing plants to adapt to unfavorable environments. Here, we discuss the latest developments about the biogenesis and classification of tsRNAs and highlight the expression regulation and potential function of tsRNAs in plant biotic and abiotic stress responses. Of note, we also collect useful bioinformatics tools and resources for tsRNAs study in plants. Finally, we propose current limitations and future directions for plant tsRNAs research. These recent discoveries have refined our understanding of whether and how tsRNAs enhance plant stress tolerance.

Keywords: biological function; expression regulation; plant; stress response; tsRNAs.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC3501703) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (81902819 and 32201799).